It’s a fact that the majority of employees say they’re more productive when working remotely. A whopping 75% say there are fewer distractions at home allowing them to focus more on their work and less on their loud team members. Of course, this is only true when companies provide the appropriate technology to work remotely. But there’s also one other thing to consider – happiness.
On average, happy workers are 13% more productive. They’re also more creative, loyal, and healthier. So, it’s not surprising when we say that employee happiness should be on the top of your mind. The good news is that you’ve already taken an important first step – allowing employees to work from home. Remote work offers a better work-life balance, especially for commuters who waste hours in traffic or public transport. But, unfortunately, this isn’t enough.
Offer Development and Learning Opportunities
Nobody likes to feel stuck in their career. Communicating employees’ career paths and providing them with development and learning opportunities ensures that everyone knows what they can accomplish when they put in the effort. This offers employees a clear idea of what perks they will get for all their hard work, making it easier to set reachable goals.
It’s also important to provide constant feedback – be it positive or constructive. It’s crucial to praise workers when they do a good job, as it will always put a smile on someone’s face when their work is acknowledged. For example, at clovio, we have regular evaluation meetings to provide feedback and go over additional responsibilities the person can undertake. Plus, we make a point of saying ‘good job’ whenever it’s appropriate.
Provide Extra Benefits
There are many ways to motivate employees. Offering additional vacation time, health insurance, gifts, or flexible schedules are just a few examples. Even a Spotify Premium account will be appreciated by your workers. So, think about what your team enjoys doing the most and offer benefits accordingly.
At clovio, we enjoy a flexible schedule where we can work when we’re feeling more productive from wherever we want – be that our home office or the coffee shop around the corner. Plus, clovions occasionally get vouchers to upgrade their workspace and a Christmas gift every year.
Plan Team Gatherings
Loneliness is one of the main challenges of working remotely. And while we may interact with team members to solve day-to-day work-related issues, it doesn’t really fill the void of speaking with someone about the things we enjoy doing in our spare time. Offline meetups are preferred, but when that’s not possible, setting up online team calls will do. You can even create your own online escape room!
At clovio, we have a monthly team meeting where everyone shares what they’ve been doing in the past month, both professionally and personally. At the end of each call, we also save a few minutes for shows, restaurants, music, books, and video game recommendations. We also try to have at least one offline team gathering each year.
Set the Example
Positivity is contagious. So, lead by example by doing things that will make other people happy. Saying a simple ‘thank you’ or ‘good job’ can make someone’s day. More importantly, the person you just complimented is more likely to do the same to one of their team members – it’s called the ripple effect. By throwing a small stone into the happiness pond, you’ll make everyone spread positivity. Keep in mind that this effect will also work for negativity. Managers who suffer at the hands of a toxic CEO are more inclined to mistreat their subordinates.
Setting the example is essential to building a positive work culture where everyone’s happy. Your employees will love their job, resulting in higher productivity and retention. Of course, changes may take a while to bear fruit – it won’t happen overnight. But by fostering positivity every single day, your team will become exponentially happier.
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